The 2024 Election is quickly approaching, so ACIL decided to dedicate this month’s ACIL happenings article to the importance of the disability vote.
We in America are truly fortunate to live in a democracy. Voting is a fundamental right and the cornerstone of that democracy. According to an online version of the Encyclopedia Britannica found here, the first presidential election was held on February 4th. 1789. White men have had the right to vote since that first election. Women, however, did not earn the right to vote until the 19th amendment of the Constitution was ratified on August 18th, 1920, according to a National Archives article found here. In theory, all American citizens 18 and older have had the right to vote and have been able to exercise that right since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law on August 6th of that year prohibiting racial discrimination in voting, according to an Encyclopedia Brittanica dedicated to that particular piece of legislation found here. However, if you are a person with a disability, regardless of race or ethnicity, chances are you did not have the access needed to exercise your right to vote until the mid-1990s after the changes that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required were implemented into society.
The fact that advocates with disabilities of previous generations did not have the access needed to exercise their right to vote makes it extremely important for people with disabilities of current and future generations to exercise and protect our right to vote. As many of you likely already realize, people with disabilities are the largest minority in the world because disability does not discriminate based on gender, age, ethnicity, or any other identifying characteristic. Anyone can join the disability community at any time and many people will join our community as they age. Amplifying the many diverse voices of our community through voting can make a crucial difference.
People with disabilities face unique challenges that require specific attention from policymakers. From access to healthcare and education to essential support like home and community-based services, these issues are deeply personal and directly impact the quality of life of people with disabilities. Voting gives people with disabilities and our allies the opportunity to support policies and candidates that will prioritize and protect the things that matter to our community. It is also important for people with disabilities to remember that by casting a vote we are giving voice to the voiceless. As unfortunate as it is, the fact of the matter is that there are still many people with disabilities living in institutions who are unable to advocate for themselves by voting. Those of us who are out in the community and exercise our vote have a responsibility to do so because we represent not only ourselves but the entire disability community.
Elections determine the leaders who will make decisions on issues that directly impact the lives of those with disabilities. Whether it has to do with the enforcement of disability rights, the development of inclusive education policies, or the funding of disability services, the policymakers who are elected to office are ultimately given the power to have a profound impact on the lives of people with disabilities, so it is vital for us to have a say in who holds that power. Voting is the best way for us to actively ensure that people with disabilities are considered at every level of the government and that every policymaker ultimately knows about the issues that matter most to us.
Actively participating in the voting process is the best way to ensure that the process remains accessible to people with disabilities. According to a flyer on poll worker guidance for people with disabilities developed by the Voting Access Committee, which is made up of Centers for Independent Living such as ACIL as well as the Ohio Olmstead Taskforce, the ADA requires that people with disabilities have access to polling places, the right to voting assistance, accessible voting machines, and communication aids if needed. It is important for people with disabilities to vote and ensure that these protections and accommodations are in place and will remain in place for future generations. If we do not enforce and protect our rights now, then we are ultimately risking losing them and making life with a disability look much different for future generations.
The current generation of voters with disabilities must get out and exercise our right to vote not only to honor the advocates who came before us and fought so hard to earn the access needed to exercise the right, but also to inspire future generations. We must set an example for future generations of voters with disabilities by voting. Current generations of voters with disabilities need to exercise their right to vote to show future generations of disability voters that voting is an important part of advocacy and that by amplifying our voices we can indeed make a difference by preserving or even improving our quality of life. Hopefully, our example will empower future generations to continue voting and protecting our rights for years to come.
The staff at ACIL hope this article has helped you to better understand the importance of the disability vote and inspired you to vote and make your voice heard on November 5th. I have heard many people say that they do not bother voting because they do not think that their one vote will make much of a difference. If you are one of those people, let me ask you, where would we be if everyone believed that their vote did not matter? Let me also point out that statistics show that every vote matters. According to an article published in The New York Times on November 3rd, 2020, found here, 4.9 million Georgia residents voted in 2020 election but the winner of the election in that state won by fewer than 12,000 votes. Every vote counts. Every voice matters. Vote on November 5th. Your quality of life depends on it. Make your voice heard and do your part to ensure that society is more inclusive, equitable, and just for all.
